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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

17 year old spilled water on Host family Laptop

500 replies

Mrsg26 · 01/04/2025 23:46

Wonder if someone can offer advice on what to do in this situation. My daughter is 17 and is auditioning for drama schools at present. As she is under 18 and visiting schools in London ( we live in Scotland) She has had to stay with a host family on her visits. Last night the Host offered my daughter some water but placed the glass on the kitchen table next to her laptop. My daughter picked up the glass but it slipped and some water went on the host’s laptop. The lady told my daughter last night not to worry and she dried it, she said she had a new laptop which was there in the kitchen however today The lady called me whilst my daughter was in her audition and told me it will cost £200 to repair the laptop and the expectation is for me to pay for it to be repaired.

Whilst i totally am sympathetic and sorry for what happened, as is my daughter, she didn't do it intentionally or with any malice and it was a complete accident. Part of me thinks why would she place a glass of water next to expensive equipment, as spillages often happen in kitchens. As an experienced host with lots of children in her home regularly she should be aware of these hazards. This is her business and therefore she should insure against these things.

Whilst I am not against contributing towards the repairs, I just feel that I shouldn’t have to pay for it all as they were both negligent. Any advice from other parents of teens? Thanks

OP posts:
alwayslearning789 · 02/04/2025 00:54

@Mrsg26 There is no need to be pedantic with this one.

It was an accident - your young adult daughter split water on the laptop.

Pay for the repair.

TheSilentSister · 02/04/2025 00:54

I think you could pay half as a good will measure, not admitting fault. Just send the payment and a short text msg. I very much doubt they will pursue it any further.

Beautifulbouquet · 02/04/2025 01:02

I really think you should pay the full repair bill but you should ask for an invoice from the repair company and pay them directly.

It is not the host's fault. It is your daughter's fault. It was an accident but you are reaching to suggest the host was at fault here. She acted carefully so as not to worry your daughter before her audition and isn't charging you for her time and inconvenience which will be quite considerable.

Seriously why should the host be out of pocket? It was kind of her to lend the laptop.

nicenicemaybe · 02/04/2025 01:02

My son’s friend stood on my tablet and it was destroyed. His parents were very wealthy but they never offered a bean . I just put it down to poor parenting from me for allowing the boys to use it 🤷‍♀️This happened about 15 years ago .

Original poster
Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 01:03

Whooowhooohoo · 02/04/2025 00:51

And we are only hearing daughters version of events….

Does the host family have a connection to the school? , Don’t want your non-paying to impact daughters audition / admission.

The host is not someone employed by the universities and is not affiliated with the colleges in any way. We used her once last year and 2 short stays this year. I have never met her.

I will do what someone further up said & will pay half, but not all. I simply don't have that amount of spare cash anyway, & my daughter cannot afford to pay her either

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 01:13

Beautifulbouquet · 02/04/2025 01:02

I really think you should pay the full repair bill but you should ask for an invoice from the repair company and pay them directly.

It is not the host's fault. It is your daughter's fault. It was an accident but you are reaching to suggest the host was at fault here. She acted carefully so as not to worry your daughter before her audition and isn't charging you for her time and inconvenience which will be quite considerable.

Seriously why should the host be out of pocket? It was kind of her to lend the laptop.

My daughter wasn't using the hosts laptop. The host had left her laptop opened on the kitchen table and put a glass of water down beside it, When my daughter reached for the water it slipped. The host could easily have put the glass of water at the opposite end of the table away from her device and this would not have happened.

What is strange is the host already purchased a new laptop prior to my daughter’s arrival and it was the old one sitting on the kitchen table which the water was spilled over which she now wants the costs to repair

OP posts:
321user123 · 02/04/2025 01:18

I might be completely off my rocker and reading too much into things.

But I feel that the laptop had already issues and the £200 repair is not for the actual water damage if any.

You mentioned that she said there was a brand new laptop (separate to this one) in the kitchen anyways… which makes me think this may have had issues.
Also for her to say not to worry immediately and just wiping it off with little reaction sound like the spill was very minor?

321user123 · 02/04/2025 01:21

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 01:13

My daughter wasn't using the hosts laptop. The host had left her laptop opened on the kitchen table and put a glass of water down beside it, When my daughter reached for the water it slipped. The host could easily have put the glass of water at the opposite end of the table away from her device and this would not have happened.

What is strange is the host already purchased a new laptop prior to my daughter’s arrival and it was the old one sitting on the kitchen table which the water was spilled over which she now wants the costs to repair

Show quote history

Funny that I JUST posted about the new laptop without reading the full thread or this reply…

I would say to her that you would want to see an independent report of the issue with the laptop and then contribute a nominal fee as she really should have home insurance to cover accidents.
(in the view that she is VERY unlikely to go ahead with this.)
Also, if anything I wouldn’t pay more than say £50 and that’s only if you needed to maintain goodwill, which sounded like you don’t have to..

TheHerboriste · 02/04/2025 01:42

Of course you should pay! How is that even a question??

TheaBrandt1 · 02/04/2025 01:53

You should pay but from your responses I’m guessing you won’t which is graceless behaviour.

farmlife2 · 02/04/2025 01:57

If you have an accident, you still have to pay.

If someone accidentally prangs my car, they pay. If the neighbour's kid kicks a ball through my window, they pay. Accidents happen but you still have to take responsibility.

I'd pay 100%.

SouthLondonMum22 · 02/04/2025 02:04

Accident or not, you still need to pay.

reversegear · 02/04/2025 02:14

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 00:16

just to add, i am happy to pay half, but just dont feel i should pay all of the repair costs. As the host placed the glass of water next to her own computer, which i would not have done knowing the risks.

Have you seen the quote from the repair shop? I’d be asking for the make model of laptop and a quote for what’s being replaced.

MsAmerica · 02/04/2025 02:19

No, only one party is at fault. You pay for it. Preferably with contributions from your daughter.

Morningsleepin · 02/04/2025 02:20

In my world if I or my child damages someone else's property, I pay for replacement or repairs

RawBloomers · 02/04/2025 02:21

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 00:08

She placed a glass of water next to her computer on a kitchen table. Spillages happen regularly in kitchens and its easy cleaned up. But if expensive equipment is there then that should have been considered. If the host had spilled water on my daughter’s ipad, I wouldnt expect her to pay as my daughter would know not to have expensive equipment where food and drink are consumed. That is where I feel the Host also has to take some responsibility

Show quote history

Spillages happen regularly in kitchens, but spillages from picking up a glass of water aren't somehow more likely because it's a kitchen than if it were any other room. Having a drink by a laptop is exceedingly common in offices and homes, because generaly you have to be being careless to spill from a glass or cup. And if the laptop was obvious your DD should have been being more careful than normal.

Tbrh · 02/04/2025 02:27

DevilledEgg · 01/04/2025 23:48

Your kid broke it. She should foot the repair bill

This

HolidayHappy123 · 02/04/2025 02:53

If she does it as a business, she should have insurance to cover accidental damage.

BlondiePortz · 02/04/2025 02:58

If my teen did this I would pay for it and not find ways to make myself feel better about not paying for it to be perfectly honest

OneRainyNight · 02/04/2025 03:01

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 00:12

She is running a business from her home of which I am sure she also has to be suitably insured against. I run a business from my home too and I have accidental damage cover to cover such events

Show quote history

Being a host is the business I presume, so yes, the host should claim on her insurance.

Will you daughter need to stay there again though? If so, it may be worth paying as the woman may refuse to host her again.

1SillySossij · 02/04/2025 03:08

Mrsg26 · 01/04/2025 23:59

She isn't with her any more. She left this morning & wont be returning.

The first time my daughter stayed here it was arranged through a 3rd party agency, the host said we can cut out the agency so the last 2 times she has stayed she has just arranged directly with the lady and transferred her the money for the stay. However There has been no contract signed to say damages need to be paid for by child or parent. Whilst morally I feel we need to contribute i don’t think
she should pursue us for the full repair bill. Just wanted other opinions before I respond to her.

Show quote history

This is why you should gave stuck with the agency qho I doubt charge more but provide insurance for this sort of thing.

Onthemaintrunkline · 02/04/2025 03:17

I cannot believe your attitude or the way you are arguing the toss! Your daughter damaged a laptop. It doesn’t matter whether it was an accident or not, the laptop now needs repairing due to your daughter spilling water on it. You need to quit arguing, step up & pay the repair bill….in full. How you think this is not your responsibility is beyond me!

Perimama · 02/04/2025 03:17

I would ask to pay the repair shop directly. Either that or say you will pay half as a gesture of good will. I agree that the host shouldn't have left the laptop there open and accept no shared responsibility for what happened.

Missey85 · 02/04/2025 03:19

DevilledEgg · 01/04/2025 23:48

Your kid broke it. She should foot the repair bill

This is the right answer 😊

SeaUrchinHat · 02/04/2025 03:22

An easy way to work out how you should proceed: think about what you would expect in this situation if you were the host. Would you be happy to foot the bill if someone damaged your laptop? Not very long ago this question wouldn’t have been asked but responsible behaviour appears to increasingly be falling by the wayside.